[skinnydip]

And it's 6:30 in the morning on a Sunday? I jolted out of bed at 6 am, thinking it was Monday, the first day of scool. Made lunches, coffee, started breakfast and fed the pets before it dawned on me what day it was.
Befuddled, I made my way to the scale to find I am UP 4 pounds from yesterday. Crud!
No worry. I didn't even eat 4 pounds of food yesterday. It always happens like that with me. Lose 3, gain 2 lose 2 gain 1 ad infinitum...
At least I know I lost a solid pound last week, and that's what I had expected and hoped for. Those days of dropping 5 in a day or two are history. In a way, thank God. But in a way, those were nice incentives. Of course, on the other hand, it used to be torture if I would get up and actually weigh more, like this morning.
Anyway, it's already getting easier. The final breakthrough will be tomorrow when I can get back to my routine. I feel comforted when I have the illusion of having some degree of control over my actions and food. So it's back to getting up at 5:30 and going to my morning meditation, which sets my head straight, then to the gym, which primes my body, nice shower, dress well and I'm set for the day, and set for success. No more night time munchies because I won't be up. Back to a protein shake on the way to the gym. It will hurt the first week or two, but hopefully I'll have something to show by the end of that time which will make it all worth it.
I never thought of myself as a disciplined person, subject to routine, in fact, quite the contrary. But this summer in Austin with a new "life" has taught me I can no longer play on a slippery slope. I may not be fastidious in my eating or diligent in my exercise, but I have to do it just like brushing my teeth or things slowly start to deteriorate.
OK, onward ho. 4 weeks 2 days until I leave. I'd like to drop 14. That's unlikey, but I can at least shoot for 8, which will still be hard but not impossible. I don't want to pour myself into a girdle like sausage into casing with my dress!
Vicki

[Pillows]

Vicki...I love your writing style. I am also looking forward to school starting back up here. I will probably walk my son to school while the weather is nice and walk him home, so that will help with the exercise and then I will mostly concentrate on lifting weights at the gym. Once the weather turns colder though I will probably wimp out and just do the working out at the gym. I am looking forward to having a fairly dependable routine to keep me centered. I hope that you reach your goals and that you are able to be proud of the many accomplishments you have already had along the way.
janae